Thursday, December 27, 2007

Time to Switch it Up

So I just returned home from a brief holiday visit. I got 3 sessions in of poker. 2 limit hold'em and one NL holdem. The limit hold'em, kicked my butt. I ended up dropping $500 playing 4/8 w/half-kill and 6-12 at two different card rooms. I wasn't playing that badly either. The play I was up against was poor and that is being kind. I just couldn't catch cards and when I made hands I lost sick pots to runner runner flush or nearly impossible str8's. I realized that 6/12 is now the new 3/6. People raising with junk, calling raises with junk and calling flop and turn bets with nothing and then either making a hand on the river or then folding. I either need to play more because I felt rusty or rethink my strategy. My cousin who went with me on my limit hold'em nightmares won almost $700 and told me he won over $400 last night. Over $1100 in 3 sessions (probably about 5hrs of play) is just sick. He recommended me low-limit hold'em by Lee Jones. I have been wanting to read this book for years but never got around to it. Everything I have read says this is the book to read on low-limit hold'em. My cousin lent me his copy and I shall read it. However, I think I may shy away from limit when given the opportunity.

I played an hr of 1/2nl at an Indian casino and ended up $126. I played great poker and the play was atrocious as I have seen at most 1/2 tables. I felt really comfortable for the first time playing 1/2 and I think with more practice this can improve. Unfortunately it is rare to find this game outside of Vegas. AZ and CA have spread limit games (Indian casinos may offer 1/2) but Vegas is the place for 1/2. I'll be back in vegas in February for a family trip and will definietly log some hours at the 1/2 tables.

Friday, December 21, 2007

New Blogging opportunities for the grinders

Hello to my loyal readers...all one of you. The Grinders (Stewman and NBA) have been picked to start blogging about poker at a new site hosted by Poker pro and podcaster Adam Schwartz. I have already done my first post. The site is www.pokersift.com. I encourage all of you to check the site out. There is a stable of other bloggers. Should be a lot of fun. Not sure if NBA will be doing this, I hope so but with his stable of future little poker players about to expand, he may not due to lack of time.

Now don't worry, I will be pulling double duty on both blogs and will try not to duplicate material but some may overlap. Merry X-Mas to my fellow grinders and to all of you.

Stewman

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Could I have dreamed of it any better...

So my title is in reference to the action I got on my bustout hand from a tourney that NBA and I played in. It was a crazy maniacal tournament this past weekend at a local casino in AZ. It was a 10k guaranteed with $60buy-in and 2 optional $30 rebuys which you could do at anytime regardless of stack size. That was news to me but I liked the idea. For some reason I decided to both my rebuys before the tourney started....which is bad strategy imo. I started with 15k in chips. I'll save you boring hands like my 99 being cracked by 22 on a 8 high flop or other crazy play by complete donkeys. I have never seen such ridiculous, horrible play in my life. Anyways onto the hand that crippled me.

I am UTG and have 2 black aces (NBA's favorite hand). Blinds at 200/400 (they started at 100/200 w/30min levels). I have 13.5k in chips. I limp with my aces knowing I will get action. 2nd position limps (horrific player). 4th position limps (decent player who thought he was better than he was)5th position than raises to 2k. She was the tightest woman in the world and this was only her 2nd hand she had played the whole tournament. She played the previous hand and showed QQ. I immediately put her on KK or AK or maybe QQ again. I thought aces were unlikely since I have 2 of them. Then 6th position goes all infor 3400 total. 7 position (SB) instantly calls the 3400. BB folds and I proceed to go all in raising another 10k. 2nd position insta calls for over 8k, 4th position hims and haws for a minute stating he has a hand that is strong and can beat a lot of things with the right flop(WTF) but finally folds. The tight woman in seat 5 actually takes about another minute to decide and then calls. The SB thinks for another minute and finally folds after I tell her she doesn't need to call. I didn't want more people in the hand. We turn over the hands. I have aces, 2nd position has Q4 of clubs (no joke), the tight lady has KK and the all in lady had 66. The guy who took forever to decide said he had QJ and the lady who I talked down from calling had 44.

Flop comes 753 rainbow. Turn a 8 and river a K...I lose the biggest pot of the tourney up to that point and am left with 300 in chips. I am all in on the next hand with J2 (I was in the BB). 2 guys are in the hand. Flop comes J high and another bets and other guy folds. Guy has AK. Of course I get greensteined with an ''Ace on the River'' and I bust out. Congrats to NBA who lasted longer but eventually the donks caught up to him. I probably won't play as I wasn't a fan of the play (even though really juicy) nor the environment. I like other casinos I have played at in the area better.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

My First Blogger Tourney

So I finally got the chance to play in one of the Blogger tourneys hosted by AlCantHang, Otis, and Dr. Pauly. It was the $69+6 Blogger Big Game this past Sunday. 51 runners with 1st place a nice $1300+. I started out with Otis and emptyman at my table. We started with 5k in chips and 10 or 15 minute levels, I can't remember. Not much going on at first. Win a few, lose a few and I'm down to 4300 and I decide to raise my first pot and hit the flop.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222322622: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:41:40 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (4,850)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,310)
Seat 3: garthmeister (7,850)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (5,005)
Seat 5: OtisDart (5,540)
Seat 6: Zeem (5,000)
Seat 7: willwonka (5,030)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,415)
Zeem posts the small blind of 20
willwonka posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [7c 6c]
Mike_Maloney folds
emptyman folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 100
garthmeister folds
Zeem: add some duct tape
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
OtisDart: One step ahead of you there
willwonka calls 60
*** FLOP *** [6d 7h Td]
willwonka checks
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 200
garthmeister: Mine is run by a gerbil in a wheel, stuck together with baling wire and chewing gum.
willwonka calls 200
*** TURN *** [6d 7h Td] [2c]
garthmeister: And I think the gerbil is dead.
willwonka checks
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 400
willwonka has 15 seconds left to act
willwonka folds
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (620)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 620 | Rake 0
Board: [6d 7h Td 2c]
Seat 1: emptyman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (620), mucked
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Zeem (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: willwonka (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney didn't bet (folded)

I proceed to keep getting dealt Ace small or tempting hands like 107 or 86 but fold pretty much everything. Playing tight and the table itself is kinda tight with one guy raising a lot but showing down hands. I finally get JJ and everyone folds

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222380589: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:46:46 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (5,110)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,905)
Seat 3: garthmeister (7,495)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (4,945)
Seat 5: OtisDart (5,440)
Seat 6: Zeem (4,980)
Seat 7: willwonka (4,770)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,355)
OtisDart posts the small blind of 20
Zeem posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Jh Jd]
garthmeister: Great, guess it's time to branch our to the West Coast
willwonka has 15 seconds left to act
OtisDart: Sorry, Garth.
willwonka folds
Mike_Maloney folds
Zeem: they never think to check the gerbil for contraband
emptyman folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 150
garthmeister folds
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart has 15 seconds left to act
garthmeister: It's a neat trick, especially when the gerbil _is_ the contraband.
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
Uncalled bet of 110 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
OtisDart: It's part of my job as a writer to cover the story inside and out...in this case,the story is moostly inside
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Jh Jd] a pair of Jacks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (100)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 100 | Rake 0
Seat 1: emptyman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (100)
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Zeem (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: willwonka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney didn't bet (folded)

This was how tight I was playing

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222463043: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:54:03 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (5,175)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,760)
Seat 3: garthmeister (7,785)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (5,010)
Seat 5: OtisDart (5,405)
Seat 6: Zeem (4,395)
Seat 7: willwonka (4,580)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,890)
willwonka posts the small blind of 25
Mike_Maloney posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ad 8h]
emptyman folds
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
garthmeister folds
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
willwonka folds
Uncalled bet of 25 returned to Mike_Maloney
Mike_Maloney mucks
Mike_Maloney wins the pot (50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 50 | Rake 0
Seat 1: emptyman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Zeem (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: willwonka (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (big blind) collected (50), mucked

Plan to reraise raiser but SB beats me to it and I call his reraise and fold to C-Bet
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222479478: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:55:31 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (5,600)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,760)
Seat 3: garthmeister (7,785)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (5,010)
Seat 5: OtisDart (5,405)
Seat 6: Zeem (3,995)
Seat 7: willwonka (4,555)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,890)
emptyman posts the small blind of 25
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [6h 6s]
garthmeister folds
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
willwonka folds
Mike_Maloney raises to 175
emptyman raises to 550
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 500
Mike_Maloney has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney: well, damn
Mike_Maloney folds
*** FLOP *** [8d 3s Ks]
emptyman bets 800
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 800 returned to emptyman
emptyman mucks
emptyman wins the pot (1,275)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,275 | Rake 0
Board: [8d 3s Ks]
Seat 1: emptyman (small blind) collected (1,275), mucked
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Zeem didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: willwonka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (button) folded before the Flop


Now my first key hand of the night comes up. Not sure if I played properly but the board had str8 opportunities so that is why I raised on the flop. Otis claims to have had AQ and emptyman states he had AK...I don't believe Emptyman!!!

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222692915: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:14:37 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (5,975)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,100)
Seat 3: garthmeister (6,760)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (5,170)
Seat 5: OtisDart (7,245)
Seat 6: Zeem (3,890)
Seat 7: willwonka (4,035)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,825)
OtisDart posts the small blind of 40
Zeem posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [9h 9c]
willwonka folds
Mike_Maloney folds
emptyman raises to 240
AZ DonkeyHerder has 15 seconds left to act
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 240
garthmeister folds
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart calls 200
Zeem calls 160
*** FLOP *** [9s Ah Jd]
OtisDart checks
Zeem checks
emptyman bets 640
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 1,500
OtisDart has 15 seconds left to act
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
emptyman has 15 seconds left to act
emptyman folds
Uncalled bet of 860 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (2,240)
OtisDart: Boooooooooooooooo
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,240 | Rake 0
Board: [9s Ah Jd]
Seat 1: emptyman folded on the Flop
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (2,240), mucked
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Zeem (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: willwonka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney didn't bet (folded)

5 hands later, the hand that propelled me into the chip lead...I reraised Maloney because he had been opening pots with garbage especially in late position and didn't expect a reraise from the BB. I thought about folding but felt I had enough chips for a call. NBA may disagree and rightly so. Garthmeister had been solid and I seriously thought about folding...I guess I'm not that good yet :)

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222729591: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:17:53 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (4,975)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (5,380)
Seat 3: garthmeister (6,760)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (5,170)
Seat 5: OtisDart (7,125)
Seat 6: Zeem (3,730)
Seat 7: willwonka (4,155)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,705)
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the small blind of 40
garthmeister posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Th Tc]
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
willwonka folds
Mike_Maloney raises to 280
emptyman folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 1,000
garthmeister has 15 seconds left to act
garthmeister raises to 2,800
Mike_Maloney has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney: Awesome, I'll go back to folding now
Mike_Maloney folds
AZ DonkeyHerder has 15 seconds left to act
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 1,800
*** FLOP *** [8h Qc Ts]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
garthmeister bets 3,960, and is all in
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 2,580, and is all in
garthmeister shows [Ac Kd]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Th Tc]
Uncalled bet of 1,380 returned to garthmeister
*** TURN *** [8h Qc Ts] [Ah]
garthmeister: Whups
*** RIVER *** [8h Qc Ts Ah] [7s]
garthmeister shows a pair of Aces
AZ DonkeyHerder shows three of a kind, Tens
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (11,040) with three of a kind, Tens
garthmeister: nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,040 | Rake 0
Board: [8h Qc Ts Ah 7s]
Seat 1: emptyman (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (small blind) showed [Th Tc] and won (11,040) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 3: garthmeister (big blind) showed [Ac Kd] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 4: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Zeem didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: willwonka didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney folded before the Flop

Thsi hand propels me to the CL!!!




Another example of Maloney opening up late and me defending...my table image is so good at this point.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222792066: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 2 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:23:29 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: emptyman (9,150)
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (11,040)
Seat 3: garthmeister (1,490)
Seat 4: pvanharibo (4,540)
Seat 5: OtisDart (7,775)
Seat 6: Zeem (3,580)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (2,425)
emptyman posts the small blind of 50
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [9c Ts]
garthmeister folds
pvanharibo folds
OtisDart folds
Zeem folds
Mike_Maloney raises to 350
emptyman folds
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 250
*** FLOP *** [6d 7h 2s]
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 400
Mike_Maloney has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney folds
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (750)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 750 | Rake 0
Board: [6d 7h 2s]
Seat 1: emptyman (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: AZ DonkeyHerder (big blind) collected (750), mucked
Seat 3: garthmeister didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: OtisDart didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Zeem didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Mike_Maloney (button) folded on the Flop

Then they rebalance the tables and I get moved to a table with the 3 other chip leaders. What are the odds that the top 4 chip leaders are at the same table.

First pot I play I lose
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222846241: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:28:20 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (3,320)
Seat 2: VinNay (1,880)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (7,730)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,451)
Seat 5: chitwood (11,015)
Seat 6: columbo (11,085)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (10,459)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (11,390)
Seat 9: Zeem (3,480)
chitwood posts the small blind of 50
columbo posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [3h 3s]
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 325
Zeem folds
TFG folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 calls 325
riggstad folds
chitwood has 15 seconds left to act
chitwood folds
columbo folds
*** FLOP *** [As Qc 9s]
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 450
TheCloserX5 calls 450
*** TURN *** [As Qc 9s] [Js]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
TheCloserX5 checks
*** RIVER *** [As Qc 9s Js] [Kh]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
TheCloserX5 bets 955
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 955 returned to TheCloserX5
TheCloserX5 mucks
TheCloserX5 wins the pot (1,700)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,700 | Rake 0
Board: [As Qc 9s Js Kh]
Seat 1: TFG didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 collected (1,700), mucked
Seat 4: riggstad (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder folded on the River
Seat 9: Zeem didn't bet (folded)

2nd hand I play

Full Tilt Poker Game #4222860589: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 50/100 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:29:40 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (3,320)
Seat 2: VinNay (1,880)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (8,655)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,451)
Seat 5: chitwood (10,965)
Seat 6: columbo (10,985)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (10,459)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (10,615)
Seat 9: Zeem (3,480)
columbo posts the small blind of 50
XxMagiciaNxX posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ks Ac]
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 350
Zeem calls 350
TFG folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad has 15 seconds left to act
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX folds
*** FLOP *** [5c 2h 6s]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
Zeem bets 600
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 2,500
Zeem has 15 seconds left to act
Zeem is feeling confused
Zeem has requested TIME
Zeem folds
Uncalled bet of 1,900 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (2,050)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,050 | Rake 0
Board: [5c 2h 6s]
Seat 1: TFG didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riggstad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: columbo (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (2,050), mucked
Seat 9: Zeem folded on the Flop

Then I play a hand poorly from pre flop all the way through...this will come back to haunt me later.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222951056: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:37:54 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (3,320)
Seat 2: VinNay (1,760)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (8,655)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,451)
Seat 5: chitwood (10,965)
Seat 6: columbo (10,935)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (10,599)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (11,595)
Seat 9: Zeem (2,530)
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the small blind of 60
Zeem posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ah Tc]
TFG folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX raises to 299
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 239
Zeem folds
*** FLOP *** [8c 7c 4c]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
XxMagiciaNxX checks
*** TURN *** [8c 7c 4c] [Jh]
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 350
XxMagiciaNxX calls 350
*** RIVER *** [8c 7c 4c Jh] [Qs]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
XxMagiciaNxX checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Ah Tc] Ace Queen high
XxMagiciaNxX shows [5s 8s] a pair of Eights
XxMagiciaNxX wins the pot (1,418) with a pair of Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,418 | Rake 0
Board: [8c 7c 4c Jh Qs]
Seat 1: TFG didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riggstad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: columbo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (button) showed [5s 8s] and won (1,418) with a pair of Eights
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (small blind) showed [Ah Tc] and lost with Ace Queen high
Seat 9: Zeem (big blind) folded before the Flop

Continue picking my spots
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222977777: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:40:21 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (3,140)
Seat 2: VinNay (1,640)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (8,655)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,451)
Seat 5: chitwood (11,505)
Seat 6: columbo (11,115)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (11,368)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (10,586)
Seat 9: Zeem (2,350)
VinNay posts the small blind of 60
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [8d 7d]
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 350
Zeem folds
TFG folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
Uncalled bet of 230 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (300)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 300 | Rake 0
Seat 1: TFG (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: columbo didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (300), mucked
Seat 9: Zeem didn't bet (folded)

Then this hand that literally chnaged the rest of the tournament...a very fortuitous double up for VinNay...I know I'm beat because this guy is uber tight but I have to call and it wasn't as bad as I thought even though it was a race I could afford the hit to my stack.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4222999000: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:42:18 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (3,140)
Seat 2: VinNay (1,580)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (8,475)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,271)
Seat 5: chitwood (11,325)
Seat 6: columbo (11,175)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (11,368)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (10,946)
Seat 9: Zeem (2,530)
columbo posts the small blind of 60
XxMagiciaNxX posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [As Kc]
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 400
Zeem folds
TFG folds
VinNay has 15 seconds left to act
VinNay raises to 1,580, and is all in
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 1,180
VinNay shows [5s 5c]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [As Kc]
*** FLOP *** [5h 7d Ks]
*** TURN *** [5h 7d Ks] [Jd]
AZ DonkeyHerder: nh
*** RIVER *** [5h 7d Ks Jd] [8d]
VinNay shows three of a kind, Fives
AZ DonkeyHerder shows a pair of Kings
VinNay wins the pot (3,340) with three of a kind, Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,340 | Rake 0
Board: [5h 7d Ks Jd 8d]
Seat 1: TFG didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay showed [5s 5c] and won (3,340) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riggstad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: columbo (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder showed [As Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 9: Zeem didn't bet (folded)

Chips dwindling a little till this donkey donates to me. He lost the previous hand when he reraised all in with 77 and was called by original raiser with JJ.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223067760: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:48:34 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: TFG (610)
Seat 2: VinNay (2,921)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (7,855)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,031)
Seat 5: chitwood (11,097)
Seat 6: columbo (11,355)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (12,815)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (9,186)
Seat 9: Zeem (4,940)
chitwood posts the small blind of 80
columbo posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Qh Ah]
XxMagiciaNxX folds
TFG: gl all
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 500
Zeem folds
TFG raises to 610, and is all in
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 110
TFG shows [9h 2s]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Qh Ah]
*** FLOP *** [Ad Js Kh]
*** TURN *** [Ad Js Kh] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [Ad Js Kh 8c] [7h]
TFG shows Ace King high
AZ DonkeyHerder shows a pair of Aces
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (1,460) with a pair of Aces
TFG stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,460 | Rake 0
Board: [Ad Js Kh 8c 7h]
Seat 1: TFG showed [9h 2s] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riggstad (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder showed [Qh Ah] and won (1,460) with a pair of Aces
Seat 9: Zeem didn't bet (folded)

I proceed to fold most of my next 20 hands or so. Raise once with 99 and win uncontested and then steal this pot

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223233216: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:03:46 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 2: VinNay (5,602)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (15,535)
Seat 4: riggstad (4,551)
Seat 5: chitwood (6,493)
Seat 6: columbo (5,775)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (13,477)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (9,617)
Seat 9: Zeem (4,760)
XxMagiciaNxX posts the small blind of 100
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #6
chitwood: nh
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Qh Kd]
Zeem folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5: ty
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo raises to 600
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 400
*** FLOP *** [3h 8d 3c]
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
columbo checks
*** TURN *** [3h 8d 3c] [9d]
chitwood: think I missed that one , but oh well
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 750
columbo folds
Uncalled bet of 750 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (1,300)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,300 | Rake 0
Board: [3h 8d 3c 9d]
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riggstad didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: chitwood didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: columbo (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (big blind) collected (1,300), mucked
Seat 9: Zeem didn't bet (folded)

I raise more pots and don't see flops. My table image is solid. Still hovering between 10k-11k in chips, top 5 stack. Then the man known as Dr Pauly moved to my table. We exchanged pleasantries and then this hand happened. I made a huge mistake but to my defense, these guys had been raising with garbage in late position or on the button. I over played my semi-strong hand and it cost me. I guess I could have folded when he re-raised me but I felt I was pot-committed. Looking back on it, I might not have been as much as I thought at first. Another example where I need to take my time and didn't. Live poker I do, on-line not as much as I should.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223282657: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:08:20 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: DrPauly (2,900)
Seat 2: VinNay (4,953)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (15,185)
Seat 4: riggstad (4,761)
Seat 5: chitwood (6,123)
Seat 6: columbo (5,365)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (13,986)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (11,027)
Seat 9: Zeem (4,410)
DrPauly antes 25
VinNay antes 25
TheCloserX5 antes 25
riggstad antes 25
chitwood antes 25
columbo antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX antes 25
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 25
Zeem antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX posts the small blind of 120
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Tc Ah]
Zeem folds
DrPauly folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
AZ DonkeyHerder: howdy pauly
chitwood folds
columbo raises to 720
chitwood: hey
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 2,500
columbo raises to 5,340, and is all in
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 2,840
columbo shows [7c 7s]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Tc Ah]
*** FLOP *** [7h Kh Kd]
*** TURN *** [7h Kh Kd] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [7h Kh Kd 9s] [8d]
XxMagiciaNxX: gh
columbo shows a full house, Sevens full of Kings
AZ DonkeyHerder shows a pair of Kings
columbo wins the pot (11,025) with a full house, Sevens full of Kings
AZ DonkeyHerder: nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,025 | Rake 0
Board: [7h Kh Kd 9s 8d]
Seat 1: DrPauly folded before the Flop
Seat 2: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad folded before the Flop
Seat 5: chitwood folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (button) showed [7c 7s] and won (11,025) with a full house, Sevens full of Kings
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (big blind) showed [Tc Ah] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 9: Zeem folded before the Flop

I play one hadn with Pauly and again this is atrociuos play by me all-around
Full Tilt Poker Game #4223297980: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:09:45 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: DrPauly (3,555)
Seat 2: VinNay (4,903)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (15,135)
Seat 4: riggstad (4,711)
Seat 5: chitwood (6,073)
Seat 6: columbo (11,000)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (13,816)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (5,397)
Seat 9: Zeem (4,120)
DrPauly antes 25
VinNay antes 25
TheCloserX5 antes 25
riggstad antes 25
chitwood antes 25
columbo antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX antes 25
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 25
Zeem antes 25
Zeem posts the small blind of 120
DrPauly posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Qc 7c]
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 240
Zeem folds
DrPauly checks
*** FLOP *** [3c Jd As]
DrPauly checks
AZ DonkeyHerder checks
*** TURN *** [3c Jd As] [7h]
DrPauly bets 825
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 825
*** RIVER *** [3c Jd As 7h] [3s]
DrPauly bets 2,465, and is all in
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 2,465 returned to DrPauly
DrPauly mucks
DrPauly wins the pot (2,475)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,475 | Rake 0
Board: [3c Jd As 7h 3s]
Seat 1: DrPauly (big blind) collected (2,475), mucked
Seat 2: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad folded before the Flop
Seat 5: chitwood folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (button) folded on the River
Seat 9: Zeem (small blind) folded before the Flop

I wasn't the only one playing bad. The Tao of Poker played this hand poorly. Probably thought the guy was stealing

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223372928: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:16:48 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: DrPauly (3,756)
Seat 2: VinNay (9,731)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (15,110)
Seat 4: riggstad (6,441)
Seat 5: chitwood (5,463)
Seat 6: columbo (10,975)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (8,192)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (5,652)
Seat 9: Zeem (3,390)
DrPauly antes 25
VinNay antes 25
TheCloserX5 antes 25
riggstad antes 25
chitwood antes 25
columbo antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX antes 25
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 25
Zeem antes 25
DrPauly posts the small blind of 120
VinNay posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [4h Qc]
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX folds
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Zeem raises to 720
DrPauly raises to 3,731, and is all in
VinNay folds
Zeem calls 2,645, and is all in
DrPauly shows [Ac 5c]
Zeem shows [Kh As]
Uncalled bet of 366 returned to DrPauly
*** FLOP *** [3h Jh Js]
*** TURN *** [3h Jh Js] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [3h Jh Js 8h] [9h]
DrPauly shows a pair of Jacks
Zeem shows a flush, King high
Zeem wins the pot (7,195) with a flush, King high
The blinds are now 150/300 with an ante of 25
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7,195 | Rake 0
Board: [3h Jh Js 8h 9h]
Seat 1: DrPauly (small blind) showed [Ac 5c] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: VinNay (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad folded before the Flop
Seat 5: chitwood folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX folded before the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Zeem (button) showed [Kh As] and won (7,195) with a flush, King high



I proceed to chip back up by raising preflop and not seeing flops.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223407670: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:20:07 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 2: VinNay (11,024)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (14,993)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,841)
Seat 5: chitwood (4,863)
Seat 6: columbo (10,375)
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (7,742)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (6,802)
Seat 9: Zeem (7,070)
VinNay antes 25
TheCloserX5 antes 25
riggstad antes 25
chitwood antes 25
columbo antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX antes 25
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 25
Zeem antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX posts the small blind of 150
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [As 8s]
Zeem folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
columbo folds
XxMagiciaNxX raises to 799
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 499
*** FLOP *** [8h 7d 9c]
XxMagiciaNxX checks
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 1,000
XxMagiciaNxX folds
Uncalled bet of 1,000 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [As 8s] a pair of Eights
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (1,798)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,798 | Rake 0
Board: [8h 7d 9c]
Seat 2: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad folded before the Flop
Seat 5: chitwood folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (big blind) collected (1,798)
Seat 9: Zeem folded before the Flop

I had been abusing xMagicaNxX and was hoping he hit the flop, that is why I bet the pot. Oh Well.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223457977: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 6 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:24:57 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 2: VinNay (11,074)
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 (15,043)
Seat 4: riggstad (5,891)
Seat 5: chitwood (4,413), is sitting out
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (6,793)
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder (8,151)
Seat 9: Zeem (6,470)
VinNay antes 25
TheCloserX5 antes 25
riggstad antes 25
chitwood antes 25
XxMagiciaNxX antes 25
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 25
Zeem antes 25
chitwood posts the small blind of 150
XxMagiciaNxX posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [4s 4d]
AZ DonkeyHerder calls 300
Zeem folds
VinNay folds
TheCloserX5 folds
riggstad folds
chitwood folds
XxMagiciaNxX checks
*** FLOP *** [Jd 9c 4c]
XxMagiciaNxX checks
AZ DonkeyHerder bets 925
XxMagiciaNxX folds
Uncalled bet of 925 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (925)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 925 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd 9c 4c]
Seat 2: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 3: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: riggstad (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: chitwood (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: XxMagiciaNxX (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: AZ DonkeyHerder collected (925), mucked
Seat 9: Zeem folded before the Flop

I proceed to hang around betwen 7k-9k and then this hand happens.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223656928: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:44:39 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (23,130)
Seat 2: jjok (3,335)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (6,741)
Seat 5: VinNay (15,324)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (7,101)
Seat 7: lucko21 (14,396)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (14,168)
Seat 9: pvanharibo (10,758)
cemfredmd antes 50
jjok antes 50
smizmiatch antes 50
VinNay antes 50
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 50
lucko21 antes 50
TheCloserX5 antes 50
pvanharibo antes 50
smizmiatch posts the small blind of 250
VinNay posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ah Tc]
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 1,750
lucko21 folds
TheCloserX5 folds
pvanharibo folds
cemfredmd raises to 6,400
jjok folds
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 4,650 returned to cemfredmd
cemfredmd shows [Kd Kh] a pair of Kings
cemfredmd wins the pot (4,650)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,650 | Rake 0
Seat 1: cemfredmd collected (4,650)
Seat 2: jjok folded before the Flop
Seat 4: smizmiatch (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder folded before the Flop
Seat 7: lucko21 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: pvanharibo folded before the Flop

Then get rejuvenated with this hand
Full Tilt Poker Game #4223689294: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:47:56 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (25,830)
Seat 2: jjok (4,285)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (6,291)
Seat 5: VinNay (24,032)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (4,401)
Seat 7: lucko21 (13,446)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (16,668)
cemfredmd antes 50
jjok antes 50
smizmiatch antes 50
VinNay antes 50
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 50
lucko21 antes 50
TheCloserX5 antes 50
TheCloserX5 posts the small blind of 250
cemfredmd posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ah Qd]
jjok raises to 4,235, and is all in
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 4,351, and is all in
lucko21 folds
TheCloserX5 folds
cemfredmd folds
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [Ah Qd]
jjok shows [Kh Jc]
jjok: gg me
Uncalled bet of 116 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
*** FLOP *** [2d 5s Th]
*** TURN *** [2d 5s Th] [Qs]
*** RIVER *** [2d 5s Th Qs] [6d]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows a pair of Queens
jjok shows King Queen high
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (9,570) with a pair of Queens
jjok stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9,570 | Rake 0
Board: [2d 5s Th Qs 6d]
Seat 1: cemfredmd (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: jjok showed [Kh Jc] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder showed [Ah Qd] and won (9,570) with a pair of Queens
Seat 7: lucko21 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (small blind) folded before the Flop

More hands
Full Tilt Poker Game #4223719689: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:51:04 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (24,780)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (11,582)
Seat 5: VinNay (18,241)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (9,736)
Seat 7: lucko21 (12,696)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (17,918)
cemfredmd antes 50
smizmiatch antes 50
VinNay antes 50
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 50
lucko21 antes 50
TheCloserX5 antes 50
TheCloserX5 posts the small blind of 250
cemfredmd posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [8c Ah]
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 1,300
lucko21 folds
TheCloserX5 folds
cemfredmd calls 800
*** FLOP *** [Kc Ts Tc]
cemfredmd bets 1,500
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 1,500 returned to cemfredmd
cemfredmd mucks
cemfredmd wins the pot (3,150)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,150 | Rake 0
Board: [Kc Ts Tc]
Seat 1: cemfredmd (big blind) collected (3,150), mucked
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder folded on the Flop
Seat 7: lucko21 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (small blind) folded before the Flop

I try and be aggresive in the SB and it backfires

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223740913: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 300/600 Ante 75 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:53:14 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (27,705)
Seat 2: DDionysus (10,490)
Seat 3: jeciimd (15,232)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (12,907)
Seat 5: VinNay (16,716)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (7,611)
Seat 7: lucko21 (11,221)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (17,443)
Seat 9: emptyman (10,093)
cemfredmd antes 75
DDionysus antes 75
jeciimd antes 75
smizmiatch antes 75
VinNay antes 75
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 75
lucko21 antes 75
TheCloserX5 antes 75
emptyman antes 75
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the small blind of 300
lucko21 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [8s Ks]
InstantTragedy (Observer): It's Donktastic!
TheCloserX5 folds
emptyman folds
cemfredmd folds
DDionysus folds
jeciimd folds
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 2,000
lucko21 raises to 11,146, and is all in
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
Uncalled bet of 9,146 returned to lucko21
lucko21 mucks
lucko21 wins the pot (4,675)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,675 | Rake 0
Seat 1: cemfredmd folded before the Flop
Seat 2: DDionysus folded before the Flop
Seat 3: jeciimd folded before the Flop
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: lucko21 (big blind) collected (4,675), mucked
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: emptyman folded before the Flop

Next hand
Full Tilt Poker Game #4223746636: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 300/600 Ante 75 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:53:49 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (27,630)
Seat 2: DDionysus (10,415)
Seat 3: jeciimd (15,157)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (12,832)
Seat 5: VinNay (16,641)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (5,536)
Seat 7: lucko21 (13,821)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (17,368)
Seat 9: emptyman (10,018)
cemfredmd antes 75
DDionysus antes 75
jeciimd antes 75
smizmiatch antes 75
VinNay antes 75
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 75
lucko21 antes 75
TheCloserX5 antes 75
emptyman antes 75
lucko21 posts the small blind of 300
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Ts Kh]
lightning36 (Observer): Kind of like being in the stands for the Derby
emptyman folds
cemfredmd folds
DDionysus folds
jeciimd folds
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 5,461, and is all in
lucko21 folds
TheCloserX5 folds
Uncalled bet of 4,861 returned to AZ DonkeyHerder
AZ DonkeyHerder mucks
AZ DonkeyHerder wins the pot (2,175)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,175 | Rake 0
Seat 1: cemfredmd folded before the Flop
Seat 2: DDionysus folded before the Flop
Seat 3: jeciimd folded before the Flop
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (button) collected (2,175), mucked
Seat 7: lucko21 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: emptyman folded before the Flop

Not sure what I was thinking here...but maybe my curse of A10 in tyhis tourney saved me some money, who knows.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4223757485: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 300/600 Ante 75 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:54:54 ET - 2007/11/18
Seat 1: cemfredmd (27,480)
Seat 2: DDionysus (10,265)
Seat 3: jeciimd (15,007)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (14,257)
Seat 5: VinNay (16,491)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (6,961)
Seat 7: lucko21 (13,371)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (16,318)
Seat 9: emptyman (9,268)
cemfredmd antes 75
DDionysus antes 75
jeciimd antes 75
smizmiatch antes 75
VinNay antes 75
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 75
lucko21 antes 75
TheCloserX5 antes 75
emptyman antes 75
emptyman posts the small blind of 300
cemfredmd posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [Tc As]
DDionysus folds
jeciimd raises to 2,000
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder folds
lucko21 folds
TheCloserX5 folds
emptyman folds
cemfredmd calls 1,400
*** FLOP *** [2d Ac 9h]
cemfredmd bets 1,800
jeciimd has 15 seconds left to act
jeciimd raises to 3,600
cemfredmd folds
Uncalled bet of 1,800 returned to jeciimd
jeciimd mucks
jeciimd wins the pot (8,575)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,575 | Rake 0
Board: [2d Ac 9h]
Seat 1: cemfredmd (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: DDionysus folded before the Flop
Seat 3: jeciimd collected (8,575), mucked
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder folded before the Flop
Seat 7: lucko21 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: emptyman (small blind) folded before the Flop

Well final hand happens. I was being blinded down and not catching any cards for last 15 hands or so. I see my pocket pair and I know I'm good and hope I can win the race...and of course I don't.

Full Tilt Poker Game #4223881943: Blogger Big Game (31592875), Table 5 - 400/800 Ante 100 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:07:49 ET - 2007/11/19
Seat 1: Zeem (21,214)
Seat 4: smizmiatch (9,682)
Seat 5: VinNay (49,661)
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (5,361)
Seat 7: lucko21 (23,971)
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 (14,018)
Seat 9: emptyman (7,293)
Zeem antes 100
smizmiatch antes 100
VinNay antes 100
AZ DonkeyHerder antes 100
lucko21 antes 100
TheCloserX5 antes 100
emptyman antes 100
AZ DonkeyHerder posts the small blind of 400
lucko21 posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AZ DonkeyHerder [4s 4h]
TheCloserX5 folds
emptyman folds
Zeem raises to 2,400
smizmiatch folds
VinNay folds
AZ DonkeyHerder raises to 5,261, and is all in
lucko21 folds
Zeem calls 2,861
AZ DonkeyHerder shows [4s 4h]
Zeem shows [Js Ad]
*** FLOP *** [6c Kc 7s]
*** TURN *** [6c Kc 7s] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [6c Kc 7s Jc] [6d]
AZ DonkeyHerder shows two pair, Sixes and Fours
Zeem shows two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Zeem wins the pot (12,022) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
AZ DonkeyHerder stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,022 | Rake 0
Board: [6c Kc 7s Jc 6d]
Seat 1: Zeem showed [Js Ad] and won (12,022) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Seat 4: smizmiatch folded before the Flop
Seat 5: VinNay (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: AZ DonkeyHerder (small blind) showed [4s 4h] and lost with two pair, Sixes and Fours
Seat 7: lucko21 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: TheCloserX5 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: emptyman folded before the Flop


I busted 14th out of 51 with top 6 getting paid. It was a fun tourney and I want to play in more of these but my work and school schedule doesn't allow me during the times they play. Congrats to VinNay who took it down.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Sick Beats

So after dominating 6-man sngs cashing in 9 out of 10, I didn't cash in 4 straight getting my money in as a favorite in 3 of the 4. Now I'm busto and probably done with PS for the year besides some free rolls I can use my FPP's for. I might try FTP's Aussie Millions 25 seat guarantee in December but we shall see. Price might be too much for me.


PokerStars Game #13069722064: Tournament #66326447, $6.00+$0.60 Hold'em No
Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/11/06 - 00:47:08 (ET)
Table '66326447 1' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: joco66 (1480 in chips)
Seat 2: Stewman20 (1540 in chips)
Seat 3: tim1902 (1180 in chips)
Seat 4: GoldMonkey88 (1180 in chips)
Seat 5: shartmachine (1860 in chips)
Seat 6: Deloittes (1760 in chips)
shartmachine: posts small blind 10
Deloittes: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [Ad Ah]
joco66: folds
Stewman20: raises 60 to 80
tim1902: folds
GoldMonkey88: calls 80
shartmachine: calls 70
Deloittes: raises 1680 to 1760 and is all-in
Stewman20: calls 1460 and is all-in
GoldMonkey88: calls 1100 and is all-in
shartmachine: folds
*** FLOP *** [8c Jd Kc]
*** TURN *** [8c Jd Kc] [Qs]
*** RIVER *** [8c Jd Kc Qs] [9s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Deloittes: shows [Td Th] (a straight, Nine to King)
Stewman20: shows [Ad Ah] (a pair of Aces)
Deloittes collected 720 from side pot
GoldMonkey88: shows [Kh Kd] (three of a kind, Kings)
Deloittes collected 3620 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4340 Main pot 3620. Side pot 720. | Rake 0
Board [8c Jd Kc Qs 9s]
Seat 1: joco66 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Stewman20 showed [Ad Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 3: tim1902 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: GoldMonkey88 (button) showed [Kh Kd] and lost with three of a kind,
Kings
Seat 5: shartmachine (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Deloittes (big blind) showed [Td Th] and won (4340) with a
straight, Nine to King


PokerStars Game #13069936132: Tournament #66327129, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No
Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/11/06 - 01:04:52 (ET)
Table '66327129 1' 10-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: ded29 (1535 in chips)
Seat 2: threeouts (1625 in chips)
Seat 3: thsisrEtaded (2050 in chips)
Seat 5: gs8727 (1530 in chips)
Seat 6: Stewman20 (810 in chips)
Seat 7: SummerOf83 (1220 in chips)
Seat 8: soapsuds (1465 in chips)
Seat 9: Darzy (1820 in chips)
Seat 10: man-is1 (2945 in chips)
Darzy: posts small blind 25
man-is1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Stewman20 [As 3s]
ded29: folds
threeouts: folds
thsisrEtaded: folds
gs8727: calls 50
Stewman20: calls 50
SummerOf83: folds
soapsuds: calls 50
Darzy: calls 25
man-is1: checks
*** FLOP *** [9s 7s Kh]
Darzy: checks
man-is1: checks
gs8727: bets 150
Stewman20: raises 610 to 760 and is all-in
soapsuds: folds
Darzy: folds
man-is1: folds
gs8727: calls 610
*** TURN *** [9s 7s Kh] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [9s 7s Kh 8s] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gs8727: shows [Js Ts] (a straight flush, Seven to Jack)
Stewman20: shows [As 3s] (a flush, Ace high)
gs8727 collected 1770 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1770 | Rake 0
Board [9s 7s Kh 8s 9d]
Seat 1: ded29 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: threeouts folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: thsisrEtaded folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: gs8727 showed [Js Ts] and won (1770) with a straight flush, Seven
to Jack
Seat 6: Stewman20 showed [As 3s] and lost with a flush, Ace high
Seat 7: SummerOf83 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: soapsuds (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: Darzy (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 10: man-is1 (big blind) folded on the Fl

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Double Shootout Success

So I got a phonecall from fellow Grinders, Inc member Stewman last week telling me he had won a double shootout on Pokerstars to the Sunday Million tournament.

I was happy for him, but immediately starting asking him about the difficulty of the tournament. He told me that it was relatively soft and could see easily cashing in another one.
I have had some success playing in the double shootouts before. I won a seat in the 2006 WCOOP Event #1 via a double shootout and decided to give it a try.

And I won. The very first one I played.




The tournament was soft, and it was relatively easy. I could see myself taking another one down with relative ease, and decided to play more.

And I did.




I have grown very frustrated lately in the 6-handed SNGs that I had been playing with regularity, and found these double shootouts give me much better EV. So, for the time being, I will continue to play these.






Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Another "Hellmuthian moment" brought to you by yours truly

PokerStars Game #12740705753: Tournament #64646842, $12+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/10/20 - 13:52:02 (ET)
Table '64646842 2' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: ALEXBRONK (280 in chips)
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 (2795 in chips)
Seat 5: jcs11204 (1695 in chips)
Seat 6: zambiaod (4955 in chips)
BigHeeb91: posts small blind 50
jcs11204: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BigHeeb91 [Ad Ac]
zambiaod: calls 100
ALEXBRONK: folds
BigHeeb91: raises 300 to 400
jcs11204: calls 300
zambiaod: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qh 9s 4h]
BigHeeb91: bets 2395 and is all-in
jcs11204: calls 1295 and is all-in
jcs11204 said, "nh"
*** TURN *** [Qh 9s 4h] [4d]
*** RIVER *** [Qh 9s 4h 4d] [7h]
BigHeeb91 said, "jeezus"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BigHeeb91: shows [Ad Ac] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
jcs11204: shows [Ah 4s] (three of a kind, Fours)
jcs11204 said, "1 love"
jcs11204 collected 3490 from pot
BigHeeb91 said, "what a TERRIBLE call"
BigHeeb91 said, "TERRIBLE"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3490 Rake 0 Board [Qh 9s 4h 4d 7h]
Seat 1: ALEXBRONK (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 (small blind) showed [Ad Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 5: jcs11204 (big blind) showed [Ah 4s] and won (3490) with three of a kind, Fours
Seat 6: zambiaod folded before Flop
jcs11204 said, "i only play good cards"
BigHeeb91 said, "idiot"
jcs11204 said, "dont tilt"
jcs11204 said, "u still have NO CHANCE"
jcs11204 said, "HAHAHAHA"
jcs11204: folds
jcs11204 said, "****"
BigHeeb91 said, "not only are you a terrible player, your kid's ugly too"
jcs11204 said, "that hurt..."
jcs11204 said, "but dont be a scumbag"
jcs11204 said, "he died when he was 3 so just stop"
BigHeeb91 said, "dont be an idiot and call off all your chips like a donkey and hit a miracle"
jcs11204 said, "drop it"
BigHeeb91 said, "learn to fold"
BigHeeb91 said, "donkey"
jcs11204 said, "learn to take a bad beat"
BigHeeb91 said, "i play flawless poker and donkeys like you making horrible plays get all my chips"
BigHeeb91 said, "just SICK"
jcs11204 said, "shark scope me, im up 600 this week"
BigHeeb91 said, "ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
BigHeeb91 said, "by making HORRIBLE calls?"
BigHeeb91 said, "OBV"
jcs11204 said, "drop it"
BigHeeb91 said, "you fold JJ and call all in with bottom pair"
BigHeeb91 said, "idiot"
BigHeeb91 said, "there goes my chips"
BigHeeb91 said, "DONKEY"
BigHeeb91 said, "way to go"
PokerStars Game #12740774705: Tournament #64646842, $12+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/10/20 - 13:56:22 (ET)
Table '64646842 2' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: ALEXBRONK (260 in chips)
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 (800 in chips)
Seat 5: jcs11204 (1560 in chips)
Seat 6: zambiaod (7105 in chips)
zambiaod: posts small blind 50
ALEXBRONK: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BigHeeb91 [6s Ac]
BigHeeb91 said, "time for you to get lucky again"
BigHeeb91: raises 700 to 800 and is all-in
jcs11204: raises 760 to 1560 and is all-in
zambiaod: folds
ALEXBRONK: calls 160 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Qd 5c 7d]
*** TURN *** [Qd 5c 7d] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [Qd 5c 7d 2h] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BigHeeb91: shows [6s Ac] (high card Ace)
jcs11204: shows [Tc 9d] (high card Queen)
BigHeeb91 collected 1080 from side pot
ALEXBRONK: shows [6h Kh] (high card King)
BigHeeb91 said, "YES"
BigHeeb91 collected 830 from main pot
jcs11204 said, "there u go"
*** SUMMARY *** Total pot 1910 Main pot 830. Side pot 1080. Rake 0 Board [Qd 5c 7d 2h Jc]
Seat 1: ALEXBRONK (big blind) showed [6h Kh] and lost with high card King
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 showed [6s Ac] and won (1910) with high card Ace
Seat 5: jcs11204 (button) showed [Tc 9d] and lost with high card Queen
Seat 6: zambiaod (small blind) folded before Flop
BigHeeb91 said, "thats how its supposed to work donk"
BigHeeb91 said, "the only hands you've won is when you were way behind and got lucky... you have such skill"
PokerStars Game #12740812810: Tournament #64646842, $12+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/10/20 - 13:58:46 (ET)
Table '64646842 2' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 (1610 in chips)
Seat 4: benderbot95 (2621 in chips)
Seat 5: jcs11204 (1570 in chips)
Seat 6: zambiaod (6445 in chips)
benderbot95: posts small blind 50
jcs11204: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BigHeeb91 [Ad 9h]
zambiaod: raises 100 to 200
BigHeeb91: calls 200
benderbot95: folds
jcs11204: raises 1370 to 1570 and is all-in
zambiaod: folds
BigHeeb91: calls 1370
BigHeeb91 said, "HOLD"
BigHeeb91 said, "HOLD"
*** FLOP *** [Kc 2d Ks]
BigHeeb91 said, "HOLD"
BigHeeb91 said, "HOLD"
*** TURN *** [Kc 2d Ks] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [Kc 2d Ks Qc] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jcs11204: shows [5h Ah] (a pair of Kings)
BigHeeb91: shows [Ad 9h] (a pair of Kings - Ace+Queen+Nine kicker)
BigHeeb91 said, "donkey"
BigHeeb91 collected 3390 from pot
BigHeeb91 said, "GET OFF MY TABLE"
*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 3390 Rake 0 Board [Kc 2d Ks Qc 7c]
Seat 3: BigHeeb91 (button) showed [Ad 9h] and won (3390) with a pair of Kings
Seat 4: benderbot95 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: jcs11204 (big blind) showed [5h Ah] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 6: zambiaod folded before Flop

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

BULLDOZER'D!!!!!!!!!!!




PokerStars Game #12689166891: Tournament #64394034, $200+$15 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/10/17 - 20:50:36 (ET)
Table '64394034 1' 9-max
Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: sohokid (770 in chips)
Seat 2: RPM213 (1715 in chips)
Seat 3: DALTONATOR (1460 in chips)
Seat 4: fold_em_sho7 (2375 in chips)
Seat 5: eddy81 (535 in chips)
Seat 6: BigHeeb91 (1995 in chips)
Seat 7: jbecks81 (1095 in chips)
Seat 8: grillboy62 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: RaiNKhAN (2055 in chips)
jbecks81: posts small blind 25
grillboy62: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BigHeeb91 [Ac Jh]
RaiNKhAN: raises 100 to 150
sohokid: folds
RPM213: folds
DALTONATOR: folds
fold_em_sho7: folds
eddy81: folds
BigHeeb91: calls 150
jbecks81: folds
grillboy62: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qc 9s Ah]
RaiNKhAN: bets 250
BigHeeb91: calls 250
*** TURN *** [Qc 9s Ah] [7h]
RaiNKhAN: checks
BigHeeb91: bets 350
RaiNKhAN: raises 1305 to 1655 and is all-in
BigHeeb91: calls 1245 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Qc 9s Ah 7h] [Td]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RaiNKhAN: shows [Qs Qd] (three of a kind, Queens)
BigHeeb91: shows [Ac Jh] (a pair of Aces)
RaiNKhAN collected 4065 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4065 Rake 0 Board [Qc 9s Ah 7h Td]
Seat 1: sohokid folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: RPM213 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: DALTONATOR folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: fold_em_sho7 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: eddy81 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BigHeeb91 (button) showed [Ac Jh] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: jbecks81 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: grillboy62 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: RaiNKhAN showed [Qs Qd] and won (4065) with three of a kind, Queens

RaiN-FUCKING-KhAN.

I'm sick. What a bad fucking play on my part.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Big news for one of the Grinders

Just want to give congrats to NBA and his lovely wife Ms. NBA on the news that they will be the proud parents of a baby girl in the next few months.

You may be the unluckiest man in poker, but you are lucky in life NBA!!!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

WBCOOP

Texas Holdem Poker

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 4989086

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

WBCOOP

Online Poker

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 5324894

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Another Harrah's Tourney, Another Final Table Cash

So this past Sunday I decided to go and check out the poker room at AK-CHIN Harrahs resort and casino just outside of Phoenix. They had a Noon and 5pm tournaments so I planned on playing both and some cash games in between.

I got there at 10:30 and played some 3-6 dropping $13 in a little over an hour, then played in the noon tournament. $50 + $10 + $10 for dealers (got you an extra 1k in chips). So I paid the $70 and because I was playing cash games before, they gave me another 500 in chips for T3500. I won the very first hand after raising with JJ and getting 2 callers. They folded to my C-bet. After that hand I don't think I played another hand through the first orbit besides my blinds. Only 1 guy at the table I worried about and he was to my left. I paid him off twice, both times when I knew I was beat. The last hand I felt I needed to call due to pot odds when I had 2 pair and he rivered a flush. I got blinded down a little and then my table broke and we were down to 2 tables (30 people total in the tourney). I waited an orbit and then was down to 1100 with 100/200 blinds. In the BB with JJ. Button raises to 800 and I go all in. He shows KK. Flop comes J10x all diamonds. I flop top set but he has K of diamonds and hits his flush on the river. I bust out about 15th/16th and sign up for the 4-8kill game which is about to start. I sit down and drop $170 in the most wild poker game I have ever been a part of. Crazy play by maniacs. I won't go into much detail but just ridonkulous play by the guys at my table.

So 5:00pm rolls around and the tournament starts with 39 players. This tourney is $30+10+10 and I buy in for the $50. Since I was playing for 4 hours before I got 1500 extra so I started with 4500 in chips. I once again won the first hand when I flopped top pair and everyone folded to my bet. I played great hitting a ton of flops and having respect at the table. The key hand for me was when I completed from the sb with Q10 and the BB checked and we saw the flop of K1010 with 2 other limpers. I check and the BB bets. Limpers fold and I then check raise him. He calls. I bet turn and he calls. River Q fills me up and I put guy all in and he calls with J10. A few hands later I bust a guy when I call his all-in with 99. He showed 66.

Then during the break I strike up a conversation with a guy at my table who was really good. I was telling him about my attempts to qualify at the AZ state poker championship and the Maniac and then guess who sits down right next to the guy I was talking to...yep the maniac. I informed the guy I was talking to who he was. The guy played his usual maniac style raising big and trying to steal pots. Then this hand happened. Folds to the guy I was talking to in SB and he completes. The maniac raising to 2000 (blinds 100/200 or 200/400 can't remember). The SB moves all in for almost 10k and the maniac calls showing J4 of spades while the SB shows KK. Flop comes AJx one spade. Turn and river both spades and the SB is gone while maniac builds his stack.

We head to the final table and I am 3rd or 4th in chips. Top 5 get paid. Maniac is second in chips and continues his kamikaze type play. A bunch of limpers in front including me with QJs. He makes it 11k to go when the post has about 2400 in it. The massive chip leader goes all in and the maniac has pot committed himself and has to call showing J7 and the chip leader had KK and it holds up knocking maniac out in 8th. I end up finishing 5th for $137, a $87 profit. Caught no cards at FT and was getting blinded off. finally had to go all in when I had double the bb UTG with KQ. Got called by A9 and the BB and Ace hit the flop. Overall my play was good. Still got to work on a few things that NBA helped point out to me. That makes 5 tourney's at Harrah's properties with 3 FT's all of them cashes. Not bad!!!!

Not sure when I will play next though. I'm only doing the occasional free roll on-line and probably taking the rest of the year off as I need to save money but knowing me I'm sure I'll head down to Casino AZ for some 4-8kill or 6-12 action. Might even try the 5-150 spread limit game.

Also, thanks to NBA for putting poker things into perspective for me, you da man amigo!!!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

MTT Cash

So nothing significant to report but I played my first on-line MTT non-free roll last night in a couple months and cashed finishing 22nd out of 367. It was Absolute Poker which I had $5 in my account froma bonus release that I obtained. I played a $5 MTT, first place was over $400 and top 45 got paid. I played well never really in danger. I had pocket kings twice when I was first to enter pots and both times got reraised all in by shorter stacks (stacks with no reason to move all in btw) and they both hit there ace on the flop. First was A4 and second was A7. First loss dropped me from approximately from 8k to 4k. Second time dropped me from 11 k to 6k. I rebounded both times and then was at about 8.5k blinds 600/1200 and I was UTG with A9. I pushed all in and it folded to BB who called with QQ and he held up. Over all was $11 and some change for a $6 profit. Not really worth the almost 3 hours it took but nice to play a MTT again. That is 3 MTT's for me on Absolute poker with 2 cashes and 1 final table.

Reno report

So I went to Reno for a work conference for two days earlier this week. Stayed at the El Dorado. I played 3-6LH and 1-2NL. Ended up dropping $220 between both sessions. I did win about $400 playing the wheel of fortune slots but gave part of that back to finish the trip up even.

The first night was 3-6LH and it was the most passive LH game I think I have ever played. Really boring and not much fun. Had aces once and they held up having a guy call me all the way down. Had a co-worker sweat me. I explained the game to her. Had a CAL next to me which always makes the night fun.

2nd night after winning my $400 on the Wheel Fortune slots (crazy run cashing out for over $100 5 times on 2 different machines) I decided to try the NL game. I bought in for $100 and raised the first hand I got (AJo) and got no callers to begin my session up $3. About an orbit in I chased a flush and won a decent size pot as I hit my flush on the river, when the guy had turned the str8. A few hands later, I then checked the BB with A5 against 2 limpers. Flop came Ace high and I checked called a bet. We all checked the turn and I checked called the $20 river bet and won when the guy only had King high. So after the first half hour I was up about $50 playing more hands than usual due to the passive nature. Then I made a bad play and lost half my stack.

I'm sitting in the BB and look down at JJ. There were 5 limpers and I decided to just check. Probably should have raised but so many calling stations that even if I made it to say $20, I'm sure 2-3 of them would have called. Anyways the flop comes K high and lead out for $10 which is roughly a pot size bet. 1 guy calls. Turn comes a blank and I lead out again for $20 and he calls. River a K and I check. He bets $40 and for some reason I call and he has K7. Knew I was beat and still called. So now down to about $75. They break another table and we get 2 new players. Guy to my left immediately wins a big pot and starts bullying the table. He however, does always have it and is running hot. Wins a massive pot when he flops a str8 and gets a guy to donk off his chips with an over pair. Another hand he flopped set and had another guy donk off his chips. He won about $600 in less than an hour including about $60 from me when I made another bad call. I complete from the SB with A5 and he checks the BB. 2 limpers ahead. Flop comes Kx5. Checks around. Turn puts out a 2nd heart. I bet and get 2 callers. River is the worst card in the deck for me, a 5 of hearts. The flush draw got there. For whatever reason I bet $15 and get raised by the BB to $45. I think and say to myself this guy has a flush but my hands didn't stop and I throw in 6 more red chips and he has the 42 of hearts. I then nursed a short stack and eventually lost on this hand. I limped with Q10 from MP and the blinds call. Flop comes Q7x. SB makes it $20 and I move all in for $26. He calls and the turn is a blank and the river is a 7. Guy next to me goes your good and I said I don't like that 7. Sure enough the sb had a seven and won.

Now right before this hand we had a guy sit down and buy-in for $300. He proceeded to lose that in like half an hour playing like a maniac. He lost a major pot when he raised to 20 pre-flop and the flop came J high and a guy doubled up with this AJ when the crazy guy had QJ. This put the guy on tilt and he raised the next pot to $47 pre flop. I had limped with deuces and the guy next to me limped with 108. The guy to my right called the $47. He was all bitching and moaning the whole time next to me about not catching cards. I folded and so did the guy next to me. Flop came 101010. I would have flopped a full house and the guy next to me quads. Anyways, the guy to my right instantly bets about $100 and the crazy guy looks pissed and doesn't hesitate to put him all in for his last $100 which the guy calls instantly calls
. Crazy guy flips over AJ and the other guy 99. Turn a blank and river an Ace. Crazy guy takes down monster pot and recoups most of his losses.

Next hand I have 86s and limp and a few other limpers. The crazy guy makes it 15 and me and one other guy call. Flop comes Q97 and the crazy acts first and bets $15. I say to myself he has nothing and if he does I have an open-ender. I go all in for about $56 more and everyone folds. I show my 86 and got some props for my play. I just wanted to slow the crazy guy down and play back at him.

This next hand I'm not sure if I made the right play. One guy told me I did and another guy told me I should have called. I checked bb with 92s. 3 limpers and sb in the hand so 5 of us. Fklop comes 1087 rainbow. Checks around. Turn comes my gin card a J. I bet 6 and get 2 callers. River comes and an Ace hits. Now I'm thinking that I got called with KQ and they made a higher str8. I check expecting it to check down or call a small bet. There is $28 in the pot right now. Last guy to act makes it $40 to go. He had just sat down and I had no read on him. I turned to the guy next to me and said I think he has KQ. I took about a minute and then folded. He overbet the pot, just smelled funny to me. I only lost $8 on it so not bad. Not really getting odds either to call. The guy to my left agreed with me and the guy to my right didn't. Not sure if correct play but I thought I was behind and felt I wasn't heavily invested so laid my str8 down. The guy never showed his cards nor would tell me what he had. A few hands later, I was shortstack (I had rebought for $100). I made it 12 to go with JJ and got 3-4 callers. Flop came 10109 with 2 hearts. I moved all in for my last money (between $40-50) and got no callers. Very next hand I get dealt 1010 and raise it to 12 and get 3-4 callers again. Flop comes Q high and I bet $15 and immediately the guy to my left raises me to 45. 4th time he had done that to me. I fold showing my 10's and he shows me KQ. I wait and hardly play for the next orbit and then wake up in MP with KK. I have $57 left. I make it $15 to go and get 4 callers including the crazy guy in the BB. Flop comes Q98 with 2 spades. Pot has $61. I have $42 left and go all in. Guy to my right goes man I really want to play and folds. Crazy guy in BB calls me and I'm thinking he has wither a flush draw or maybe Q10 or QJ. I turn over my KK and he turns over QQ for flopped top set. Turn comes a 10 and the guy next to me said he folded KJ. I left after that down $200.

It was by far the hardest NL table cash game table I had ever played. We got about 5 new players from when I started and they were all good players except for the crazy guy. I made 2 bad calls but besides that felt I played decently. Just not enough experience yet in this game to feel comfortable. This was my 7th session playing 1-2NL in a casino and have left a loser 4 times. I think with more experience I will improve but not sure if I really want to play NL cash games. I'd rather learn other games and play higher limits of LH.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Luck

From Wikipedia.com:

Luck as lack of control

Luck refers to that which happens beyond a person's control. This view incorporates phenomena that are chance happenings, a person's place of birth for example, but where there is no uncertainty involved, or where the uncertainty is irrelevant. This is the view of luck as contingency. Within this framework one can differentiate between three different types of luck:
Constitutional luck, that is, luck with factors that cannot be changed. Place of birth and genetic constitution are typical examples.

Circumstantial luck, that is, luck with factors that are haphazardly brought on. Accidents and epidemics are typical examples.

Ignorant luck, that is, luck with factors one does not know about. Examples can be identified only in hindsight.

Luck as a fallacy

Another view holds that "luck is probability taken personally". A rationalist approach to luck includes the application of the rules of probability, and an avoidance of unscientific beliefs. The rationalist feels the belief in luck is a result of poor reasoning or wishful thinking. To a rationalist, a believer in luck commits the post hoc logical fallacy which argues that because something is sequentially connected it is connected otherwise as well:

A happens (luck-attracting event or action) and then B happens;Therefore, A caused B.
In this particular perspective, probability is only affected by confirmed causal connections. A brick falling on a person walking below, therefore, is not a function of that person's luck, but is instead the result of a collection of understood (or explainable) occurrences. Statistically, every person walking near the building was just as likely to have the brick fall on them.
The gambler's fallacy and inverse gambler's fallacy both explain some reasoning problems in common beliefs in luck. They involve denying the unpredictability of random events: "I haven't rolled a six all week, so I'll definitely roll one tonight".

Luck is merely an expression noting an extended period of noted outcomes, completely consistent with random walk probability theory. Wishing one "good luck" will not cause such an extended period, but it expresses positive feelings toward the one -- not necessarily wholly undesirable.

Luck as an essence

There is also a series of spiritual, or supernatural beliefs regarding fortune. These beliefs vary widely from one to another, but most agree that luck can be influenced through spiritual means by performing certain rituals or by avoiding certain circumstances.

One such activity is prayer, a religious practice in which this belief is particularly strong. Many cultures and religions worldwide place a strong emphasis on a person's ability to influence their fortune by ritualistic means, sometimes involving sacrifice, omens or spells. Others associate luck with a strong sense of superstition, that is, a belief that certain taboo or blessed actions will influence how fortune favors them for the future.

Luck can also be a belief in an organization of fortunate and unfortunate events. Luck is a form of superstition which is interpreted differently by different individuals. Carl Jung described synchronicity: the "temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events". He described coincidences as an effect of a collective unconscious.

Christian and Islamic religions believe in the will of a supreme being rather than luck as the primary influence in future events. The degrees of this Divine Providence vary greatly from one person to another; however, most acknowledge providence as at least a partial, if not complete influence on luck. These religions, in their early development, accommodated many traditional practices. Each, at different times, accepted omens and practiced forms of ritual sacrifice in order to divine the will of their supreme being or to influence divine favoritism. The concept of "Divine Grace" as it is described by believers closely resembles what is referred to as "luck" by others.

Mesoamerican religions, such as the Aztecs, Mayans and Inca, had particularly strong beliefs regarding the relationship between rituals and luck. In these cultures, human sacrifice (both of willing volunteers and captured enemies) was seen as a way to please the gods and earn favor for the city offering the sacrifice. The Mayans also believed in blood offerings, where men or women wanting to earn favor with the gods, to bring about good luck, would cut themselves and bleed on the gods' altar.

Many traditional African practices, such as voodoo and hoodoo, have a strong belief in superstition. Some of these religions include a belief that third parties can influence an individual's luck. Shamans and witches are both respected yet feared, based on their ability to cause good or bad fortune for those in villages near them.

Luck as a placebo

Some encourage the belief in luck as a false idea, but which may produce positive thinking, and alter one's responses for the better. Others, like Jean Paul Sartre and Sigmund Freud, feel a belief in luck has more to do with a locus of control for events in one's life, and the subsequent escape from personal responsibility. According to this theory, one who ascribes their travails to "bad luck" will be found upon close examination to be living risky lifestyles. On the other hand, people who consider themselves "lucky" in having good health may be actually reaping the benefits of a cheerful outlook and satisfying social relationships, both of which are well known statistically to be protective against many stress-related diseases[citation needed]. If "good" and "bad" events occur at random to everyone, believers in good luck will experience a net gain in their fortunes, and vice versa for believers in bad luck. This is clearly likely to be self-reinforcing. Thus, although untrue, a belief in good luck may actually be an adaptive meme.


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I used to think I was a rationalist... until I started playing poker. I am now convinced that I am the unluckiest poker player on earth.

Seriously.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

"There's the world and then there is me"

The title says it all...if you believe Phil Hellmuth. No matter what you think about the guy, there is no denying his appeal for tv audiences. No doubt ESPN realizes this as they turned his final table appearance into 2 hours and he finished 6th. He made a bad call against Beth Shak to bust out. Don't know why he called except maybe he though he was in the lead. Then he is bemoaning the fact she called his raise from the big blind with KQs. As Norman Chad kept saying, she was in the bb, the chip leader and was getting 2.5 to 1 to call. Phil would have made the call and so would have everyone else in her position.

I do wonder how he acted during his final table when he won his 11th bracelet. Streamed over the Internet with a time delay and sequestered from the public, I wonder if he acted the same. Guess I should have paid to watch the stream.

I guess Phil's quote could also apply to the new home run king Barry Bonds. We all know he took steroids and cheated his way into the record books. What's worse than him being a cheat though is the fact that the guy is the biggest A-Hole in the game. The only good thing about him breaking the record is that I won a bet with the donkey bettor NBA who now owes me $110 and must do the following:

He has to kneel down before me while stating with his head down to the ground he is ashamed to have ever doubted me and that he will never make that mistake again. Then hand me my money and kiss my hand and profess his stature as the world's biggest donkey and worst prop bettor of all-time. This also must be done in the presence of the always beautiful and dignified Mrs. NBA!!!!!!! Ship it Beotch!!!

Thursday, August 02, 2007

WPT Foxwoods Classic = Worst display of poker ever

So last night as usual I plopped my fast ass down to watch the WPT on the Travel Channel. Up this week was the Foxwoods Poker Classic and I sat to watch 4 unknowns, FT bubble boy from the 2006 WSOP ME Fred Goldberg (Who won a bracelet this year and seems like a genuinely nice guy) and Mr. Tight himself Allen Kessler. I have never seen such horrendous play at a televised final table in my life. Way too many examples of poor play, missed bets, wrong reads and lucky rivers to write about. I can't even begin to go into detail but everyone at the final table played poorly except for Kessler who went out early when he took a sick beat to finish 6th when his opponent made a loose call and went runner runner for the straight. Some motel owner named Raj Patel who entered as the chip leader took it down but not after getting extremely lucky on 2 hands and the old guy Matteo, well don't even get me started on him. He got lucky when Goldberg pussed out and didn't call him in a battle of the blinds when Matteo limped from the SB with 54 and Goldberg checked with A6. Flop came A93 and Matteo instantly goes all (rainbow board) in with a gutshot and Goldberg folds. Sexton couldn't believe it and neither could I.

Anyways, I think next week is the WPT championship and there we can see the Great Matador himself Juan Carlos Mortensen take down the title and end the season in grand fashion.

One thing I love about poker is that anyone can play as long as you pay but when you see junk like that last night, it makes me think that maybe a professional league akin to the PGA might be cool to see. Don't get me wrong, I like the WPT and WSOP but a pro league where you have to meet certain qualifications to be a member of and have sponsors and the whole bit would be awesome. I think for poker to keep growing and to gain mainstream acceptance this is needed. Won't happen because of the stigma still attached and the current U.S. government stance but it would be nice to see the world class players battle it out week in week out. Also the league could mix it up and not exclusively be NLH. The recent ESPN airing of the 5k Omaha Hi with rebuys event was fantastic and had big names to go along with it. They did it justice by making it 2 hours also. Good Job ESPN!!!